Is acute bronchitis asthma?

Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
Updated on March 12, 2025
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Acute bronchitis and bronchial asthma, although both are bronchial disorders, are not the same disease; acute bronchitis is not asthma. Acute bronchitis is an acute inflammation of the bronchial mucosa caused by various pathogenic factors, with common symptoms being fever, cough, and expectoration. Some patients may also experience chest tightness and wheezing. Treatment primarily involves antibiotics and cough suppressants with expectorants. Asthma, on the other hand, is characterized by chronic inflammation of the airways, high reactivity, and widespread variable reversible airflow limitation, with clinical manifestations mainly including recurrent episodes of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, or coughing. Treatment primarily involves bronchodilators such as theophylline, receptor agonists, and anti-inflammatory medications represented by corticosteroids, thus the treatments also differ.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
1min 16sec home-news-image

How to treat acute bronchitis?

Acute bronchitis is an acute inflammation of the bronchi caused by various pathogenic factors and is relatively common in clinical practice. Symptoms mainly include coughing, production of sputum, and some patients may experience chest tightness, shortness of breath, fever, and blood in the sputum. For initial instances of acute bronchitis, it is important to first ensure rest, increase fluid intake, avoid fatigue, and avoid exposure to cold. Secondly, symptomatic treatment should be considered; cough suppressants can be used for coughs that are dry or produce little sputum, and expectorants should be used when the cough produces sputum that is difficult to expel. If there is chest tightness and wheezing, asthma medications should be chosen. If fever is present, antipyretic and analgesic medications should be used for symptomatic treatment. Thirdly, the use of antibiotics is appropriate only when there is evidence of bacterial infection; otherwise, it is best to avoid them. Treatment with antibiotics should be under a doctor's guidance, and self-medication should be avoided. With the above treatments, acute bronchitis can generally be controlled, but a minority of patients with weaker constitutions may develop chronic conditions.

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Written by Hu Bai Yu
Pulmonology
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Can acute bronchitis cause a fever?

Acute bronchitis can cause fever. In such cases, there is no need for excessive worry, as fever is a common symptom of acute bronchitis. It is advised to actively manage the fever. If the body temperature exceeds 38.5°C, take antipyretic medication; otherwise, use physical methods to reduce fever, such as wiping the patient's limbs and back with a warm towel to cool down; you can also apply fever cooling patches, or take some antipyretic medication to treat and alleviate symptoms; applying a cold towel to the forehead can also achieve the purpose of cooling. Additionally, let the patient rest more, avoid excessive fatigue, drink more water to enhance excretion, and improve their own resistance. At the same time, follow a doctor’s guidance to actively treat the symptoms. As the onset of acute bronchitis is often sudden, it is advised to address the symptoms appropriately.

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Written by An Yong Peng
Pulmonology
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Can acute bronchitis drink alcohol?

For acute bronchitis, it is generally not recommended to drink alcohol. Patients with acute bronchitis are advised to consume a light diet, avoiding spicy, irritating, and greasy foods, and to refrain from drinking alcohol, coffee, and strong tea. Patients with acute bronchitis, especially those who consume large amounts of alcohol, may experience a decrease in immunity and can even develop complications like pneumonia. Sometimes, acute bronchitis can also be accompanied by bacterial infections, and patients might need to take oral antibiotics for treatment. If a patient with acute bronchitis takes cephalosporin antibiotics, it is absolutely necessary to avoid alcohol, as alcohol can interact with cephalosporins and potentially trigger a disulfiram-like reaction, which in severe cases can lead to sudden stopping of breathing and heart function, posing a life-threatening risk. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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Can I eat mangoes with acute bronchitis?

Acute bronchitis is a very common inflammatory condition of the respiratory system, generally characterized by a sudden onset. Patients may experience clinical symptoms such as fever, cough, phlegm, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. For such patients, especially during the acute febrile phase, it is generally advised not to eat mangoes. Mangoes contain a high amount of sugar and are a tropical fruit. Eating mangoes during an acute bronchitis infection may exacerbate the patient's phlegm and even increase cough severity to varying degrees. Therefore, it is recommended that patients with acute bronchitis avoid eating mangoes as much as possible.

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Written by Liu Jing Jing
Pulmonology
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Does acute bronchitis produce phlegm?

Acute bronchitis is characterized by the presence of phlegm and is caused by pathogen infections such as viruses, bacteria, mycoplasma, and chlamydia. These infections lead to congestion and edema in the airway mucosa. During this process, goblet cells proliferate, and mucus glands increase their secretion leading to an increase in phlegm. The excess phlegm can encapsulate pathogens and dust particles, which are then expelled from the body through the movement of cilia, a normal defensive response of the body. As the airway inflammation gradually improves, the amount of phlegm tends to decrease. If the phlegm is particularly viscous, treatment may include the use of medications that thin the phlegm to aid its expulsion.